Rakia Mission

What Rakia Mission does

Rakia Mission (רקיע) is an Israeli non-profit public benefit company (חל"צ) founded in 2022 by astronaut Eytan Stibbe following his participation in the Axiom-1 (Ax-1) private mission to the International Space Station. It functions as Israel's national interface for private spaceflight, channeling the scientific, educational, and cultural outputs of the Ax-1 mission into sustained programs that connect Israeli researchers, companies, students, artists, and the broader public to space activity.

The platform operates through several distinct sub-brands and programs. Rakia VOD serves as a video-on-demand archive of mission-related content; Space Campus IL aggregates the student and academic community; Israel Space Forum acts as the industry-facing platform; educational programs target schools and students; and Art & Culture Space integrates artistic residencies and exhibitions, including a 2026 installation at the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem. Annual Israeli SpaceWeek programming has been institutionalized, with a 2027 edition already in planning, and the organization has participated in the International Astronautical Congress to engage international aerospace stakeholders.

As a non-profit, Rakia Mission's business model is sponsorship- and grant-based rather than commercial. Funding is drawn from Israeli government sources including the Israeli Space Agency and the Ministry of Innovation, corporate sponsors such as Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Ramon Foundation, and private donations. The organization reinvests these funds into its educational, research-brokering, content, and cultural programming. Its competitive position rests on the personal brand and credibility of its founder — the second Israeli astronaut — and on its role as the connective tissue between Israel's space science, industry, education, and cultural communities.

Name

Rakia Mission

Legal name

Rakia

Website

https://rakiamission.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rakia Mission is an Israeli non-profit public benefit company founded in 2022 by astronaut Eytan Stibbe following the Ax-1 ISS mission. It connects Israeli researchers, students, industry, and artists to space activity through educational programs, Space Campus IL, Israel Space Forum, Rakia VOD, and Israeli SpaceWeek.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Education and Research Facilitation

NAICS

Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE), Cultural Heritage, Arts & Archaeology Service Programs (EDAIAGAH)

Keywords

• Space mission facilitation
• ISS research access
• Space education programs
• Space industry forums
• STEM outreach initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Tel Aviv

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Mission sponsorship and philanthropy: Rakia Mission raises funds from private donors, corporate sponsors, and government bodies (e.g., Israeli Space Agency, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology) to fund Israeli participation in space missions, scientific experiments, educational programs, and art projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rakia Mission facilitates Israeli participation in human spaceflight and microgravity research aboard the International Space Station by coordinating scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, art projects, and educational activities for Israeli researchers, companies, students, and artists. The organization operates as a national platform connecting industry, academia, science, and culture to space exploration, with flagship programs including Space Campus IL, the Israel Space Forum, Rakia VOD, and the annual Israeli SpaceWeek.

Product overview

Rakia Mission operates as a unified platform comprising multiple interconnected offerings: the core Rakia Mission platform enables public participation in space activities; Rakia VOD provides video-based educational content; Space Campus IL engages students; the Israel Space Forum fosters industry collaboration; Educational Programs deliver learning materials; and Art & Culture Space promotes artistic engagement with space themes. The AX-1 Mission (April 2022) was the first Israeli mission to the International Space Station.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Space Campus IL: Student space community in Israel established by Rakia and the Israel Space Agency, connecting students from academia and industry to promote Israel's space sector.
• Israel Space Forum (ISF)
• Israeli SpaceWeek
• Rakia VOD

Products and services

• Rakia Mission A national Israeli platform connecting space exploration with science, industry, education, and culture. Enables public participation in space activities through experiments, educational programs, and art initiatives aboard the ISS.
• Rakia VOD Video on demand platform featuring Hebrew-language educational content about space, astronaut life, and the Rakia Mission activities. Includes content categories such as 'A Day in the Life of an Astronaut', 'Learning from Space', and 'Activities from Space'.
• Space Campus IL Israel's first student space community established by Rakia in collaboration with the Israeli Space Agency. Connects students from various fields to academia and industry, creating unique Israeli and international opportunities through university space clubs at Technion, TAU, BGU, Bar-Ilan, Reichman, and Hebrew University.
• Israel Space Forum A joint initiative of Rakia Mission and the Israeli Space Agency that connects Israeli companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, and government bodies to promote knowledge sharing, partnerships, and technological and economic growth in Israel's space industry.
• Educational Programs Comprehensive educational content including short stories about space, experiments, activity plans, and games for children of all ages. Covers topics from the International Space Station to human presence on the Moon.
• Art & Culture Space Platform for innovative expression and critical inquiry exploring space exploration through artistic lenses. Supports Israeli artists and creators in reimagining space through works, exhibitions, cultural events, and collaborations, including art created in microgravity conditions.
• Ax-1 Mission The first fully private crewed mission to the International Space Station, conducted as the Israeli Rakia mission with Eytan Stibbe as a crew member. The mission enabled dozens of Israeli scientific experiments across biology, medicine, neuroscience, optics, and agriculture, plus Hebrew-language educational broadcasts and Israeli artworks created in microgravity.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Israeli private space mission to the International Space Station (Ax-1, April 2022)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Axiom SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Axiom Space was the lead organizer of the Ax-1 mission, the first fully private crewed mission to the ISS. Rakia Mission served as the Israeli partner and mission organizer, with Eytan Stibbe as a crew member. Axiom Space facilitated Rakia's access to the International Space Station for experiments, art, and educational activities.
• Ramon Foundation (קרן רמון)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ramon Foundation, led by Ran and Asaf Ramon, is a co-organizer of the Rakia Mission. It provides operational support, co-manages the mission with Rakia, and facilitates the educational and scientific committees. The foundation was established in memory of astronaut Ilan Ramon.
• Israeli Space Agency (סוכנות החלל הישראלית)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Israeli Space Agency, part of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, is a key governmental partner that co-founded the Israel Space Forum with Rakia Mission, co-supports the Space Campus IL student community, and provides funding and institutional backing for Rakia's activities.
• International Space University (ISU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEytan Stibbe served as Chancellor of ISU during 2025-2026, appointed to the role following the Rakia Mission. ISU is a key international academic partner for space education, research, and talent development. Rakia Mission collaborates with ISU on alumni events and talent pipelines.
• NASAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA collaborated on the FLUTE liquid telescope experiment (with the Technion and NASA AMES) as part of the Rakia Mission. NASA facilitated the Ax-1 mission docking with the ISS and provides the foundational infrastructure enabling Rakia's research activities.
• International Astronautical Federation (IAF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAF is a major international partner that Rakia collaborates with through the Israeli Space Forum and IAC conference participation. IAF serves as a global platform connecting Rakia with international space industry players.
• SpacePharmamajorTechnology or IntegrationSpacePharma provided miniaturized laboratory facilities aboard the ISS used in the Spad (Spacepharma Advanced Lab) experiment and collaborated with Aleph Farms on cultured meat bioprinting in microgravity.
• IAI – Israel Aerospace IndustriesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAI partnered on the Cots Capsule experiment to develop radiation protection mechanisms for spacecraft. IAI is a national champion in aerospace and a key partner in demonstrating Israeli space technology capabilities.
• StemRadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStemRad tested its next-generation AstroRad radiation protection suit aboard the ISS as part of the Rakia Mission, advancing radiation safety technology for astronauts.
• Technion – Israel Institute of TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Technion partnered on the FLUTE liquid telescope experiment (with NASA AMES) and hosts the Technion Space Club under Space Campus IL. The Technion is a key academic research partner for Rakia's scientific mission.
• Tel Aviv UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAU partnered on the ILAN-ES sprite observation experiment, the visual function experiment, and hosts the Space Tau university club. Multiple TAU researchers served on Rakia's mission committees.
• Ben-Gurion University of the NegevmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGU partnered on brain.space cognitive function research and the Space Gurion university club. Professor Dan Blumberg heads the remote sensing laboratory and serves as BGU's representative in Rakia's ecosystem.
• Weizmann Institute of SciencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeizmann Institute partnered on immune aging research examining microgravity's effects on the immune system and Alzheimer's disease. It is a key research partner in Rakia's scientific program.
• Bar-Ilan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBar-Ilan University partnered on the reflective eye test experiment and hosts the BIUniverse space club. Professor Orit Shefi leads bioengineering research as part of Rakia's academic network.
• Reichman UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReichman University partnered on the ILAN-ES sprite observation experiment and hosts the RUNI Space Club. It is a founding partner in the Space Campus IL student community.
• The Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry houses the Israeli Space Agency which co-founded the Israel Space Forum with Rakia and provides governmental backing, funding, and institutional support for Rakia's national mission.
• Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSGAC is an international organization operating under UNOSA that Rakia Mission partnered with to establish the SGAC Israel chapter, supporting young Israeli participation in the global space community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC): Global non-profit network for university students and young professionals in the space sector, under UNOSA. Rakia partnered with SGAC to launch the SGAC Israel chapter; comparable as a youth-and-student space community and ecosystem builder.
• International Space University (ISU): International non-profit space university in Strasbourg where Eytan Stibbe was appointed Chancellor. Comparable to Rakia's educational and talent-development mission, with a globally-focused curriculum and alumni network.
• SpaceIL: Israeli non-profit space organization that built and launched the Beresheet lunar lander. Closest comparable peer - both are Israeli non-profit space entities driving national participation in space exploration, public engagement, and science/education missions.
• Ramon Foundation: Israeli non-profit co-organizer of the Rakia Mission, established in memory of astronaut Ilan Ramon. Comparable as a memorial-driven space education and ecosystem organization targeting Israeli youth, researchers, and the space industry.
• The Planetary Society: US-based non-profit space advocacy and education organization, the largest of its kind globally. Comparable to Rakia's cross-disciplinary model combining science, exploration, public engagement, and education in a non-profit structure.
• Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (ISS National Lab): US-based non-profit that manages the ISS National Laboratory, facilitating access for researchers, educators, and companies. Directly comparable to Rakia in operating a national access platform for ISS research, education, and commercial payloads.

Emerging players

• Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS): International student-run non-profit with chapters at universities worldwide. Comparable to Space Campus IL as a student-led space community, though less mature in industry-integration and government partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Israel Space Agency: Government body within the Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology that co-funds and co-organizes Rakia's programs. Comparable as Israel's principal coordinator of national space activities, but operates as public administration rather than as a non-profit facilitator.
• Axiom Space: US-based commercial space company that organized Ax-1 and operates private astronaut missions to the ISS. Comparable as a key enabler of Rakia's mission model, and as a private-sector facilitator of national participation in spaceflight, though at larger commercial scale.

Regional players

• UAE Space Agency: Government agency of the United Arab Emirates coordinating the country's space sector, including the Emirates Mars Mission and astronaut program. Comparable as a national space coordination body driving ambitious human spaceflight and research agendas, though governmental rather than non-profit.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1gJRBkNXyv5tbMZkmjzi4g/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/rakiamission/?locale=he_IL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rakiamission
• Instagraminstagram.com/rakiamission
• TikToktiktok.com/@rakiamission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rakia Mission